Bark House Hotel, Oakfordbridge (Exmoor)

Summary 18th century buildings Breakfast included Free car parking No smoking Facilities Gardens Drinking and dining Restaurant English breakfast (included) Lunch available (at additional cost) Dinner available (at additional cost) Bar

Nearby recreations Pub (a short drive) Museums (a short drive) Historic houses Gardens Recommended restaurants (a short drive)

Introduction

At the Bark House we offer a warm, friendly welcome and a homely atmosphere where you can enjoy good food and wine. We are Melanie and Martin and have been proprietors of the Bark House since 2007, Martin from a background in hotels up and down the country and Melanie from the Scottish Borders.

Our cosy guest house offers a good base from which to explore North Devon and West Somerset, and an ideal retreat to get away from the pressures of everyday life. Even if you are visiting just for a night or visiting friends locally, the Bark House is a great stop over.  

History to the present day

Originally this building was used for the storage of bark, in the Exe valley, used in the tanning industry throughout the local area and for export to Ireland. The building possibly had accommodation at one end with storage area being the main part of the building. It is probable that there was a structure on this site for some time prior to the stone building which has been added to over the years.

The pan tile roof was possibly brought to the area as balast in Dutch boats during the 18th century when Tiverton was a major town in the district. We are unsure when the Bark House became a bed and breakfast but we feel that it was possibly in the 1940's. The Foxford Inn, which was near the bridge over the Exe was open in the early 1900's, then became the Oakford Hotel and closed during the first half of the 20th century leaving an opening for the Bark House to become accommodation.

Dining and drinking

All our dishes are home made. Our meat, fish and vegetables are locally sourced. Melanie bakes bread and cakes as well as doing the desserts and starters. Martin cooks main courses and vegetables on the Aga, and also produces biscuits, ice creams and marmalade.

Full English breakfast is served 8:30 to 9:00am

Dinner is served 7:00 to 7:30pm, three courses on Friday and Saturday, and two courses on Wednesday and Thursday and should be booked in advance. We do not normally serve dinner on the other days of the week unless by prior arrangement.

Lunch is available by prior arrangment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday is available for a traditional family lunch for bookings made three days prior and only for family groups of between 6 and 12 people. The Bark House is then closed to other guests and available as a private venue.

Please write requests in the Additional Information field of the booking form.

Drinks can be served in the lounge, restaurant or garden. The wine list has a choice of some 20 wines from around the world including a local Exe Valley wine from Yealstone vineyard at a very good price.

Grounds and gardens

The wisteria is our prize feature and weather permitting flowers during May, and possibly again in July to a limited degree. It covers most of the front of the Building, white at one end and mauve at the other.

The cottage alongside the Bark House is covered in roses which flower continuously from June, so long as we keep dead heading!

The garden is fairly natural with an abundance of flowers. There is a small lawn alongside the Bark House with a wildlife pond fed by a waterfall when it rains. Across the road, there is a small orchard where one can sit and enjoy the view across the meadow to the river Exe.

Local wildlife is fantastic, red deer have been seen behind the Bark House and frequently go through the fields at night, rarely being seen. Foxes are present, as are otters, both leave signs during the night. Birdlife this year includes lesser spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, barn owl, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, goosander, egret (although rarely this year), nuthatch, treecreeper, tawny owl, buzzard and many others.

Other facilities

We can offer you good advice on the area with places to walk, ancient sites to visit, historic houses and gardens to see, plus a variety of activities.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: The Bark House Hotel Oakford Bridge, Nr Bampton, Devon EX16 9HZ

Check in time is between 4pm and 9:30pm. If you would like to arrive earlier please don't hesitate to let us know, rooms are always ready by 1pm and occasionally earlier, especially if you are attending a wedding. Check out time is 10:30am but can be later by arrangement.

We are located on the A396 six miles south of Dulverton adn 9 miles north of Tiverton, in the Exe valley.

From Jct 27 on the M5 take the A361 (dual carriageway) signed to Barnstaple and Exmoor via Dulverton. At the first roundabout turn north signed for Dulverton and keep following the signs for Dulverton and Minehead. Keeping the river on your left we are about 150 meters after the village sign for Oakfordbridge.

For SatNav traveller we are EX16 9HZ - good luck!

More photos of Bark House Hotel, Oakfordbridge

Flowering wisteria

Double beddee room en suite